Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

DESCRIPTION: Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is a performing arts destination in the heart of Philadelphia and the centerpiece of the city’s Avenue of the Arts. The Kimmel Center consists of two freestanding performance halls enclosed beneath a spectacular 150-foot vaulted glass ceiling or, in the words of architect Rafael Viñoly, “two jewels inside a glass box.”

Notable architectural facts:

• 61,048 linear feet of structural steel tubing supporting the glass roof
• 1,400 tons of steel supporting the glass end walls
• 156,677 square feet (3.6 acres) of glass glazing

LOCATION: Broad & Spruce Streets, Philadelphia, PA

OPENED: December 16, 2001

The time was 1910 through 1920, the waning days of the “Belle Epoque” (or the “Beautiful Era”). The place was Paris, where a previous generation of artists had already changed the rules with their groundbreaking leap into Impressionism. The City of Lights was a magnet for artistic rebels who reshaped and redefined art, and the atmosphere was one of unprecedented imagination and creativity that would dictate how the world defined and interpreted art for the rest of the
20th century and beyond.

The first-ever Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (PIFA), April 7-May 1, 2011, takes its inspiration from that

Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) today launched visitphilly.com, the new, renamed tourism Web site that replaces the region’s popular and official tourism Web site, gophila.com.

WHY: GPTMC embarked on the new Web site project in order to achieve a dramatically enhanced Web site that strengthens GPTMC’s ability to market Philadelphia as a premier visitor destination to an ever-growing online audience.

NAME CHANGE: The new name, visitphilly.com, improves the marketability of the site by using words that are easy to remember and that say what we want users to do—visit Philly.

In addition, as consumer behavior leans more

In a time when people are questioning the purchase of everything from coffee to cars, Philadelphia and The Countryside® is worth the trip, according to 30 million visitors. On January 8, the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) released its Tourism Industry Profile 2010: Worth the Trip, an industry snapshot that examines the thousands of reasons why people keep coming to the Philadelphia region—in other words, why it’s “worth the trip,” even in a tough economy. The 15-page publication takes readers through 13 years of tourism in Greater Philadelphia, which started as a day-trip city and grew to the premier

La Corporación de Mercadeo del Turismo en la Zona Metropolitana de Filadelfia o GPTMC (Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation) introdujo hoy visitphilly.com, la nueva y rebautizada página web que sustituye a gophila.com, la popular página web de turismo oficial la región.

POR QUÉ: La GPTMC acometió el proyecto de la nueva página web para introducir mejoras radicales que fortalecieran la capacidad de la GPTMC para colocar a Filadelfia en el mercado como la mejor opción de viaje ante un público cada vez más creciente conectado a la internet.

CAMBIO DE NOMBRE: El nuevo nombre, visitphilly.com, incrementa el potencial

The Barnes Foundation is proceeding with plans to move its art collection from its current location in Merion, Pennsylvania to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. The relocation is in response to the need for a facility that can accommodate greater numbers of visitors than is possible in the current location.

THE MAN & HIS COLLECTION:

Who: Albert Barnes

• Born in Philadelphia to parents of modest means in 1872
• Graduate of Central High School and the University of Pennsylvania Medical School
• Made his fortune as co-developer of an antiseptic compound called Algyrol
• Strong belief in non-discriminatory access to art

Philadelphia is committed to the environment, as evidenced by Mayor Michael Nutter’s appointment of a director of sustainability in 2008. The position develops, implements and oversees the city’s environmental policies and initiatives to deliver the mayor’s promise to make Philadelphia the greenest city in America. The new position is just one of the latest efforts that shows the city’s commitment to reducing the region’s environmental impact.

In another pioneering venture for the city, the Greater Philadelphia Film Office (GPFO) will launch the second year of its initiative to encourage more eco-friendly practices during film production. The 2009 theme, Greener S.E.T.S.

Population:
There are 3.9 million people residing in the five-county region (7.75 million in the Philadelphia Designated Market Area), making Philadelphia the second largest city on the East Coast and the sixth largest in the U.S.

Location:
Philadelphia is a two-hour drive from New York City, two-and-a-half hours from Washington, DC and 45 minutes from Atlantic City, with convenient access to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I-76, I-95 and the New Jersey Turnpike. 25% of the United States population lives within 350 miles of Center City Philadelphia.

The city is a 90-minute flight or a one-day drive from Toronto (880

For more than a century, the city of Philadelphia has been home to a number of prominent African-American artists who received academic training and created visual works of all media, contributing to the artistic and intellectual life of the city. Establishments like the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, art schools like Moore College of Art and Design and Tyler School of Art at Temple University and venues like Sande Webster Gallery and ArtJaz Gallery have provided important channels for the career development of African-American artists in Philadelphia. While the African-American art scene has blossomed and waned to varying degrees

• The second largest city on the East Coast, Philadelphia is the sixth largest city in the United States, with a population of 1.4 million in Philadelphia and 3.9 million people residing in the five-county region.
• Thanks to founder William Penn, Philadelphia’s Center City follows an easy-to-navigate grid street design. The best ways to get around Center City are by foot, taxi or public transportation. The city’s lush and historic countryside is home to many areas of interest, including Valley Forge National Historical Park, Longwood Gardens, the Brandywine River Museum, the King of Prussia Mall, Chaddsford Winery and more. The farthest

Today, short getaways, in the form of weekend retreats and day trips, are more popular than ever. Philadelphia day spas and salons are on top of the trend, offering clients a variety of luxurious customized services designed to refresh both body and spirit, from a couple’s massage to hot-stone therapy and deep-tissue reflexology. The region is home to dozens of day spas and salons offering the latest in body treatments, relaxation therapy and beauty services. Here’s a sampling:

Spa/Salons:

• Adolf Biecker Spa/Salon, located in The Rittenhouse Hotel, offers a full menu of services and packages like “The Energizer,” an

Pet lovers are crazy about their animal companions and spend more than $40 billion a year in the U.S. on pet services and accoutrements to prove it. For those who love to spoil their pet but hate to leave him behind while traveling, the Philadelphia region proves to be the “purr-fect” getaway. Pet-friendly hotels, restaurants and retail shops welcome visitors and their animal companions in all sections of the city and its suburbs. From canine-friendly parks to Very Important Pet (VIP) hotel programs, the Philadelphia region makes it easy for visitors to bring their furry friends along for the ride.

Families heading to the nation’s birthplace this summer will have plenty of time to explore the city thanks to the new Historic Philadelphia Hotel Package, offering a great hotel rate, free parking and tickets to various attractions, at five area hotels. Here are the details:

PACKAGE AVAILABILITY DATES: Available any day of the week through September 7, 2009

HOTEL PACKAGE ELEMENTS:

• Two-night accommodations
• Free hotel parking for both nights
• Two tickets to the Betsy Ross House
• Two tickets to the Lights of Liberty Show
• Two tickets for Philly-themed miniature golf in Franklin Square
• 50% discount on two tickets to 1776:

Wide-angle Panoramas With Skyline In Background:

• South Street Bridge: Skyline view from west, over the Schuylkill River. As of April 2008, parts of the bridge are under construction and access could be tricky.
• Penn Tower Hotel (roof, 22 stories high): Close to Schuylkill River, skyline view from west. 33^rd Street & Civic Center Boulevard, (215) 898-0405 (Request official permission well in advance of shoot.)
• University of Pennsylvania High Rise Residences (roof or glass-walled penthouse lounges, 26 stories high): East-facing view overlooking the center of University of Pennsylvania campus with sight lines through to Center City; unobscured view from

CAMPAIGN NAME: With Love, Philadelphia XOXO™

CAMPAIGN OVERVIEW: Launching May 2009, With Love, Philadelphia XOXO™ is part of GPTMC’s 2009 recessionary strategy to boost leisure visitation and overnight hotel stays in Philadelphia. It appeals to many different audiences through various letters addressed to travelers. Penned by the city itself, the letters let a bit of Philly “atty-tude” through while extending the invitation to visit.

FUNDING: In fall 2008, the mayor of Philadelphia and City Council approved a 1.2% increase in hotel tax on Philadelphia County hotel rooms to be shared among GPTMC, the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau and the

Name: Joan Shepp
Affiliation: Joan Shepp
Her Story: In 1971, the doyenne of Philadelphia vogue founded her eponymous shop with $100 and the credo: “Fashion is supposed to be fun.” In 1999, Shepp, who now works alongside daughter Ellen Shepp, moved the business from Philly’s burbs to a soaring, 22-foot-ceiling industrial-gallery-salon a block from Rittenhouse Square. Today, Joan Shepp the store proffers the conceptual fashion fruits of exclusive relationships with major international designers (Balenciaga, Yohji Yamamoto, Rick Owens, Ann Demeulemeester), “it” looks from Christian Louboutin, Marni, D&G and an ever-changing collection of prêt-a-porter garments, shoes and accessories from la mode’s

In summer 2009, the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) debuted a new twist on its African-American tourism marketing campaign. The initiative focuses on expanding the destination’s current visitor base by attracting a new group of African-American travelers who are younger, technologically savvy and driven to an urban destination based on its contemporary cultural offerings, vibrant nightlife scene and overall buzz factor.

Helping to shape the campaign is the Philly 360˚™ Coalition—a name that reflects the group’s commitment to giving potential visitors a 360˚ view of the city’s modern and historic tourism offerings. Here is a look at the African-American

Like so many larger-than-life figures, Galileo Galilei (February 15, 1564-January 8, 1642) made it to the top of his field through a combination of hard work and a connection to people in powerful places, specifically the Medici family.

Galileo’s parents, Giulia Ammannati and Vincenzo Galilei, a respected music teacher who conducted experiments on lute strings to support his musical theories, sent their son away from home in Florence at age 10 to study with a tutor in preparation for further education at the Camaldolese Monastery. Vincenzo wanted Galileo to become a physician, but he was intrigued by the monks and

Visitors to Philadelphia and The Countryside® can pick from dozens of special hotel packages on gophila.com, but the Philly Overnight® Hotel Package remains a fan favorite. Available year round at more than 30 hotels in the city and region, the offer comes with free hotel parking and a brand-new incentive for travelers. As part of the Love tourism campaign, 100 lucky hotel package buyers who redeem their stay before March 16, 2009 will be randomly named “Philly Guest of the Day” and receive any number of prizes at check-in. Here are the package details:

PACKAGE AVAILABILTY DATES: Check in

One hundred years ago, Philadelphia was known as the greatest brewing city in the Western Hemisphere or the “Cradle of American Libation,” according to Craig LaBan of The Philadelphia Inquirer. In fact, it was in Philadelphia taverns that the American Revolution took hold. Today, area microbreweries are reclaiming the region’s reputation by brewing some of the world’s best beer. Visitors can tour the facilities and sample the beer at most of these spots, and increasingly, local pubs are specializing in serving locally made brews.

In the mid-19^th through the early-20^th centuries, more than 90 breweries operated in Philadelphia